Flexible chemical toilet

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a recirculating marine toilet including a bowl having a discharge outlet, a flexible container containing chemically treated fluid located to receive waste fluid from the outlet, a flexible filter screen separating the flexible container into a first compartment for waste fluid and a second compartment for filtered fluid, and a recirculating pump in the second compartment to pump the chemically treated filtered fluid from the second compartment to the bowl to flush waste through the outlet into the first compartment. A vacuum discharge port and an overboard discharge can be provided from the first compartment for removal of waste fluid from the container.

limited States atent mm mm r a .m H mm CM 80 67 99 ll 23 1 400 67 1 0AwfiJ 33 m u 8.! .n W i w a 08 1.... ah C t RM S r O t n e V n. l l 2 7T "an m m: T.m Am mm n mm N H t mwnm E rmw RGFS 0 570 663 999 NH 650 036789 65 984 94 n n 0 w m b m M w a 0 G C i B m .m r M 9 a 67M M 99 11m mwu hozz m awflwm GSODO 0. 08 N ee mm. d .l W mS ha AFPA llltl [253 2247[.111

Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg Assistant Examiner-Donald B.Massenberg Att0rneys-John W. Michael, Robert E. Clemency, Gerrit D.Foster, Bayard H. Michael, Paul R. Puerner, Spencer 18. Michael,Robert 1. Gerling, Joseph A. Gemignani and 0 L T. n... LE AF m. mm e i Wcm ms mm a me mm Disclosed herein is a recirculating marine toilet wlhaving a discharge outlet. a flexible container containing chemicallytreated fluid located to receive waste a flexible filter screenseparating the flexible container into a first compartment for wastefluid and a second compartment for filtered fluid, and a recirculatingt. S e n u m w R 0 e o a m w Ca m 6 A3 I m m d m f n A s! m EC U Am flnJMLMnWW 1 l l 1 9U knsm 764 4 4 u "H m m h u n c u n W m m S L h m C ML .m U h F l l. l 2 .l 0 5 5 U pump in the second compartment to pumpthe chemically treated filtered fluid from the second] compartment tothe S T. N W M S SE mT A mT ms D E W N U M K bowl to flush waste throughthe outlet :into the first compartment. A vacuum discharge port and anoverboard discharge can be provided from the first compartment forremoval of waste fluid from the container.

3339 11] HHHA 444 m m m n l mo.m.m awmc h .l CMTM 00 3556 9999 HHH 2490408 40030 3372 806 29 223 FLEXIBLE CHEMICAL TOILET BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The recirculating marine toilet ofthis invention is provided with a flexible waste fluid container whichcan readily adapt to the contour of and the space available in thebottom of a boat. The toilet includes a bowl having a discharge outletwith the flexible fluid container located to receive waste fluid fromthe discharge outlet of the bowl. The fluid in the container ischemically treated and is filtered prior to recirculation by a flexiblefilter screen which separates the container into a waste fluidcompartment and a filtered fluid compartment. The bowl is flushed bypumping filtered fluid from the filtered fluid compartment into thebowl. The waste fluid from the bowl is discharged through the outlet andinto the waste fluid compartment in the container. Fluid to berecirculated passes through the filter screen recirculating into thefiltered fluid compartment for recirculation. The flexible container isalso capable of responding to surging of fluids in the container and togas expansion without any adverse effects on the container and reducesstresses normally produced by such forces on the seals. The filterscreen is automatically cleaned by the reverse flow of filtered fluidthrough the screen upon removal of the contents of the waste fluidcompartment.

Other objects and advantage will become apparent from the followingdetailed description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which a cross-sectional view is shown of the rcirculatingchemical toilet located in a boat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The recirculating marine toilet of thisinvention generally includes a set M) having a cover 12 both of whichare hingedly mounted on a top panel 14 for an enclosure 16 formed bysidewall panels 18. Access to the enclosure 16 is provided by hingedlyconnecting the top panel 14 to one one of the sidewall panels 18 bymeans of hinges 20. The enclosure can be of any shape and is closed atthe bottom by the sloping surface of the bottom of the boat. A bow 22 issecured to the seat 10, depending downwardly therefrom within theenclosure, and includes an annular flange 23, nozzle 24 and a dischargeoutlet 25.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided within theenclosure 16 to receive the waste fluid discharged from the outlet 25 inthe bowl. Such means is in the form of a flexible bag or container 32secured to the underside of the annular flange 23 of the bowl 22. Theflexibility of the bag or container readily affords conformance to theshape of the interior of the enclosure 16 and to the sloping contour atthe bottom of the boat.

The container 32 is filled with a slush fluid such as water which ischemically treated with one of the standard treating liquid. As anexample, a Monochem T5 chemical can be used which is made by MonogramIndustry, Inc. of Culver City, Calif. The chemically treated fluid ispumped into the bowl to flush waste through the outlet by means of asubmersible electrically actuated pump 26 connected to the nozzle 24 inthe bowl by a flexible conduit 28. The nozzle 24 is arranged to directfluid in both directions around the upper portion of the bowl 22. Thepump 26 is immersed in the fluid within the container 32 to recirculatechemically treated fluid from the container 32 to the bowl 22.

The fluid to be recirculated is filtered prior to recirculation by meansof a flexible filter screen M provided in the container 32. The screenis made from a fine mesh such as vinyl plastic and is welded orotherwise suitably connected to the sides and bottom of the bag orcontainer 32 to se arate the container into a first compartment 36 forwaste uld and a second compartment 36 for filtered flush fluid. Theflexible filter screen can also be used in any shape enclosure. Inaddition, the flexibility of the filter material affords use of agreater filtering area than would be the case with a rigid filter. Inaddition, the flexible filter can shift to accommodate varying loads.

The flexible container 32 can be emptied at a pump-out station by meansof a vacuum discharge tube 60 connected to a conduit 52 connected to thecontainer 32 or through an overboard discharge system 50 including theconduit $2 and which terminates in a port 341 in the hull $6 of theboat. Waste fluid can be pumped overboard from the container by means ofa manually actuated pump 56 connected to the conduit 52. One or bothsystems can be used. The screen 36 is automatically cleaned by thereverse flow of filtered fluid from the second compartment 36 into thefirst compartment 36 when the waste fluid is removed from the container.

Means are provided for actuating the pump 26 in the form of a switch 62connected to an electrical power source in the boat and to an electriccircuit for the pump 26. The switch 62 is located at a convenientposition in the panel 114. A timer can be provided in the pump circuitto control the duration of operation of the pump.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims:

What is claimed is:

l. A toilet comprising a bowl having a discharge outlet, a flexiblecontainer for receiving flush fluid through said outlet from said bowland including a flexible filter for filtering the flush fluid in saidcontainer, and means communicating with said bowl and with saidcontainer for pumping the resultant filtered fluid from said containerback into said bowl.

2. A toilet according to claim ll wherein said filter separates saidcontainer into a first compartment for flush fluid and a secondcompartment for filtered fluid.

3. A toilet according to claim ll wherein said filter comprises a finemesh plastic screen.

4i. A toilet according to claim 3 wherein said screen is made from avinyl plastic.

5. A toilet according to claim 3 including means for discharging fluidfrom said container.

6. A recirculating toilet comprising a toilet bowl having a dischargeoutlet, a flexible container depending from said bowl and adapted tocontain a chemically treated fluid, filter means for separating saidcontainer into a first compartment communicating with said dischargeoutlet and a second compartment, sand means for pumping fluid from saidsecond compartment into said bowl to flush waste from said bowl intosaid first compartment.

7. A toilet according to claim 6 wherein said filter means comprises aflexible filter screen.

8. A toilet in accordance with claim ll wherein said pumping means islocated in said container.

9. A toilet in accordance with claim 6 wherein said pumping means islocated in said container.

10. A toilet in accordance with claim 9 wherein said pumping means islocated in said container second compartment.

227 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATEOF CORRECTION Patent No. 3628 196 Dated December 2], 1,921

Inventor) Ronald G. Quiram and Gaylord M. Borst It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line delete "recirculating";

Column 1, line "rcirculating" should be recirculating Column 1, line"set" should be seat Column 1, line 46 "bow" should be bowl Column 1,line 58 "slush" should be flush Column 1, line 60 "liquid" should beliquids Signed and sealed this 11th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR ROBERT GOTTSC Atte sting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

2. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said filter separates saidcontainer into a first compartment for flush fluid and a secondcompartment for filtered fluid.
 3. A toilet according to claim 1 whereinsaid filter comprises a fine mesh plastic screen.
 4. A toilet accordingto claim 3 wherein said screen is made from a vinyl plastic.
 5. A toiletaccording to claim 3 including means for discharging fluid from saidcontainer.
 6. A recirculating toilet comprising a toilet bowl having adischarge outlet, a flexible container depending from said bowl andadapted to contaiN a chemically treated fluid, filter means forseparating said container into a first compartment communicating withsaid discharge outlet and a second compartment, sand means for pumpingfluid from said second compartment into said bowl to flush waste fromsaid bowl into said first compartment.
 7. A toilet according to claim 6wherein said filter means comprises a flexible filter screen.
 8. Atoilet in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pumping means is locatedin said container.
 9. A toilet in accordance with claim 6 wherein saidpumping means is located in said container.
 10. A toilet in accordancewith claim 9 wherein said pumping means is located in said containersecond compartment.